Potent DNA gyrase inhibitors bind asymmetrically to their target using symmetrical bifurcated halogen bonds

Anja Kolarič, Thomas Germe, Martina Hrast, Clare E. M. Stevenson, David M. Lawson, Nicolas P. Burton, Judit Vörös, Anthony Maxwell, Nikola Minovski () and Marko Anderluh ()
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Anja Kolarič: National Institute of Chemistry
Thomas Germe: John Innes Centre
Martina Hrast: University of Ljubljana
Clare E. M. Stevenson: John Innes Centre
David M. Lawson: John Innes Centre
Nicolas P. Burton: Inspiralis Ltd., Innovation Centre
Judit Vörös: John Innes Centre
Anthony Maxwell: John Innes Centre
Nikola Minovski: National Institute of Chemistry
Marko Anderluh: University of Ljubljana

Nature Communications, 2021, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-13

Abstract: Abstract Novel bacterial type II topoisomerase inhibitors (NBTIs) stabilize single-strand DNA cleavage breaks by DNA gyrase but their exact mechanism of action has remained hypothetical until now. We have designed a small library of NBTIs with an improved DNA gyrase-binding moiety resulting in low nanomolar inhibition and very potent antibacterial activity. They stabilize single-stranded cleavage complexes and, importantly, we have obtained the crystal structure where an NBTI binds gyrase–DNA in a single conformation lacking apparent static disorder. This directly proves the previously postulated NBTI mechanism of action and shows that they stabilize single-strand cleavage through asymmetric intercalation with a shift of the scissile phosphate. This crystal stucture shows that the chlorine forms a halogen bond with the backbone carbonyls of the two symmetry-related Ala68 residues. To the best of our knowledge, such a so-called symmetrical bifurcated halogen bond has not been identified in a biological system until now.

Date: 2021
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-20405-8

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